If you have chronic kidney disease you are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseaseCardiovascular disease includes all diseases and conditions of the heart and blood vessels, such as arteries and veins.

The most common diseases and conditions include heart attack, heart failure, stroke, blockages in the blood vessels, and vascular kidney disease.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease

As well as kidney disease, there are a number of other risk factors, including:

Age – your risk increases with age, particularly for women, who are more at risk after menopause as their cholesterol levels increase

Gender – men are at increased risk

Family history of cardiovascular disease

Hereditary factors such as race – people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin are at higher risk

Other chronic health conditions, high blood pressure and metabolic disorders including diabetes

Obesity, meaning a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more

High cholesterol

If you are in the early stages of kidney disease, you can check your risk of cardiovascular disease with this risk assessment tool: cvdcheck.org.au

If you are in the late stages of kidney disease you are automatically considered to be at a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Links to fact sheets and other helpful information can be found in our Resource Library.